January 12

An earthquake strikes Haiti and protesters buy land to block an airport's development.

Jan. 12, 1953: The Hatteras National Seashore is established along North Carolina's Outer Banks. The seashore's unspoiled beaches and dunes offer a haven for migratory birds and nesting sea turtles.

Jan. 12, 1977: U.S. President Gerald R. Ford renews his call for reducing oil imports. But he points out in his State of the Union address that such imports had risen by 10 percent in the previous four years.

Jan. 12, 2010: A magnitude-7.0 earthquake strikes near Haiti's capital city, Port-au-Prince. The death toll is estimated at nearly a quarter million. Haiti's poor infrastructure leaves hundreds of thousands of people homeless for many months.

Jan. 12, 2010: Opponents of a proposed third runway at London's Heathrow Airport (at right) pop a surprise on airport officials: They've bought a chunk of the land needed to build the runway.